A MAN is facing jail after a jury found him guilty of offering cash to a teenage asylum seeker to firebomb homes belonging to his estranged wife’s relatives.

Kamran Afshar had denied two counts of encouraging or assisting the 19-year-old to commit arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, between April 1 and May 6 this year in Consett, County Durham.

But after several hours deliberation the jury in his trial at Teesside Crown Court found him guilty of the offences.

Afshar, who is separated from his wife, was said to have given the man two cans of petrol and promised him £5,000 cash if he carried out the acts.

But the teenager did not do as he was instructed and instead alerted a pastor at a Baptist Church he was a member of in Newcastle, who told police.

It was alleged by the Crown that Afshar, who had complained about the “Government taking his children”, had intended to travel to London at the requisite time in a bid to avoid being linked to the planned crimes.

The case was adjourned until a date to be fixed so reports could be prepared on the 43-year-old defendant, of Cobden Street, Consett.